West Lancashire Borough Council has been successful in a bid for Government funding to help it ensure the town has an even brighter future!

Historic England's 'High Street Heritage Action Zone' scheme aims to create lasting improvements to town centres for the communities who use them by supporting economic and cultural growth, and enhancing local historic character.

The Council has yet to hear how much funding it will receive; council officers will now draw up and submit for consideration detailed proposals, after which the Government will confirm the level of funding the Council will receive. Proposals being looked at as part of the next stage of the bid include:

·Improvements to Moor Street at its junction with St Helens Road
·A lighting project to link the historical landmarks of Ormskirk Parish Church and the Clock Tower
·A heritage-based environmental scheme to provide space for Ormskirk Market to grow
·Celebrate the town's historic network of alleyways by introducing heritage signage, lighting and public art.

Which of these initiatives will proceed will be largely determined by the level of funding the Council receives from Government.

The Council's proposals seek to complement the public realm scheme proposed for Wheatsheaf Walk, which the Council believes has the potential to be a much-loved public square.

Councillor Ian Moran, Leader of West Lancashire Borough Council, said: "The Council is delighted its bid for Ormskirk has been successful. Ormskirk has a strong and proud heritage which the creation of a Heritage Action Zone will build upon and Council staff will work with Historic England to create the best possible programme.

"This funding stream was for historic town centres and high streets, which is why the Council bid for Ormskirk.

"We are ambitious for the whole of West Lancashire and constantly looking for external funding schemes that might be used to enhance different areas.

"The Council is making significant progress on the Skelmersdale town centre regeneration scheme and we are also in discussion with the owners of the Concourse Shopping centre on possible future phases of development."

Whilst money to be used on our Towns heritage is always welcome, it’s how it’s used that counts and this governing council has an extremely poor record so far! Perhaps a large car park to accommodate the flock of tourist queuing to view the new Student accommodation in Church St/Moor St, even make some money by offering guided tours of these buildings, or start a business by bringing your own market stall.
Heritage this Council wouldn’t know Heritage if it bit them on the bum. Every possibility this money will simply be wasted.

And as for them patting themselves on the back for applying for this grand, it would have been gross negligence not to have done so!